Growing Mouse Embryos from Stem Cells

For the first time, researchers at the University of Cambridge have created mouse embryo from stem cells in the lab. According to this piece: “. . . single embryonic stem cells were mixed with small clusters of trophoblasts, the cells that go on to form the placenta. The cells were placed in a semi-solid gel which allowed the structure to grow in three dimensions. After five days, the jumble of cells had multiplied and self-organised into distinct cell populations. The embryonic cells had also begun to diverge into two populations. One cluster, the mesoderm, would normally give rise to the heart, bones and muscles, while another contained cells that would go on to become brain, skin and eyes.” The research objective is to determine when is the best time to implant an embryo created by IVF. MORE